Gay Montpellier

Gay Montpellier

Emergency measures in the wake of Covid-19:

A May 11th gradual lifting of lockdown measures included the re-opening of many shops. Masks are mandatory on public transport. From June 2nd cafés, bars and restaurants across the country may reopen indoor table seatings, but those in the Paris region will only be allowed to open outdoor terraces. Parks and public gardens, historical monuments and beaches will also reopen, but gatherings of more than 10 people will remain prohibited.

There is reduced cross-Channel ferry service, and Eurostar has limited Paris and London service. Some flights are operating. People will be able to travel beyond the 100 kilometers limit within France, and then throughout Europe as of June 15 as border reopen, although some countries still have quarantine requirements. Policies on travel from outside the EU will be clarified by then.

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Capital of the department of Hérault in the region of Occitania, Montpellier is the third-largest city on the French Mediterranean coast, after Marseille and Nice, and the 8th largest in France. The fastest growing city in the country these past 25 years, it has a population of which about one third is made up of students from its three universities and other institutions of education.

An important 12th century trading center ruled by the Kings of Aragon, Montpellier had links across the Mediterranean world, and medical teaching centers had been established here by Cardinal Conrad of Urach in 1220. A center of Jewish culture, the city was known for religious tolerance towards Muslims and Cathars, and later Protestant Huguenots. Sold to King Philip VI in 1349, the region became a part of France. Resistance to the Catholic crown increased, and the city was beseiged, then occupied by royal troops of Louis XIII in 1622. Under terms of the Treaty of Montpellier the city was pardoned, but the Citadel of Montpellier was built to better control its people.

The Tour des Pins is the sole survivor from among the 25 towers in the city's medieval walls, built around 1200. Rue du Bras de Fer is typical of medieval Montpellier, and the Mikve, the ritual Jewish bath, dating back to the 12th century, is one of very few that remain in Europe. Saint Pierre Cathedral was built in the 14th century and the Porte du Peyrou triumphal arch was built in the late 17th century. The main focal point of the city is the Place de la Comédie, with the Opera Comédie, built in 1888.

For much of its history Montpellier has had a significant Catalan/Spanish population (the Catalan and Occitan languages are very similar), and today it is also home to Moroccan, Algerian, and Italian communities. A lively LGBT community socializes in more than a dozen bars and saunas in the city center, and Pride is celebrated each year in mid-July.

Getting Here

The Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport is in the town of Mauguiois, southeast of Montpellier. Public transport makes the airport easily accessible by train, to Gare St Roch, then tramway line 1 to Place de l’Europe Tramway Station, for the Airport Shuttle bus number 120.

Montpellier rail service includes TGV highspeed trains, arriving at Gare Saint-Roch, the main railway station, with trains to and from points around France, and connections to all of Europe - see SNCF. There are plans for a future high-speed connection to the LGV Méditerranée at Nîmes.

Getting Around

TaM, Transports de l'agglomération de Montpellie, manages public transportation, with a four-line, 56-kilometre tramway network. They intersect at Gare St. Roch station, Rives du Lez and Corum. Single tickets cost 1.60€, a ten-trip ticket is 9.20€, an all-day ticket is 4.30€ and for 17.10€ you can ride for seven days. See their website or Getting Around Montpelier for route maps and more information.

France is part of the Euro Zone, so the euro is the accepted currency. The many ATMs in the downtown area will dispense euros direct from an American or Canadian dollar account, but consult with your bank before leaving home to see if it has French partner banks that can save on cash withdrawal charges. Also get a credit card with an imbedded chip and pin number, now required by many ticket machines in Europe, and get your bank's 24-hour non-800 service number in case of card loss.

Media & Resources

LOM Magazine, the gay magazine for cities in the south of France, published six times a year, is distributed at over 350 locations. Read back issues online or follow their links.